Tashigang

Located at 1070m Tashigang is 92 km and four hours’ drive east of Mongar. Once an important centre of trade with Tibet, Tashigang is in the heart of eastern Bhutan. It is one of the largest towns in the region and the second largest district in Bhutan. Tashigang Dzong, built in 1667 by Mingyur Tebpa, is on a high promontory overlooking the confluence of the Drangme Chu and Gamri Chu. It was the seat of control for the whole of eastern Bhutan from the late 17th until the beginning of the 20th century. Tashigang is also the main market for all the six districts in eastern Bhutan; people from Merak and Sakteng, a remote Eastern region stroll through the town with their unique yak-hair hats and distinctive costumes. Tashigang is home to many weavers and some of the finest raw silks can be found in villages like Radhi.

Bhutan’s only college of further education, Sherubtse, is 22 km from Tashigang on the way to Samdrup Jongkhar. It is worth visiting the weaving centre at Khaling (also on the way to Samdrup Jongkhar, about an hour out of Tashigang) where special textiles are produced in the traditional Bhutanese way.

Nearby you may be interested to visit the Blind School, first established in 1973, where visually impaired students have been educated under the patronage of the 4th King’s uncle since that time.